in relation to: the thresholds set for the grant of a patent; and exempting patent infringement of research and experimental activities;

Patents Act 1990

and

Trade Marks Act 1995

to: reduce delays in finalising patent and trade mark applications; enable trade marks and patent attorneys to practise through a corporate structure; and extend to trade marks and patent attorneys the same ‘advice’ privilege available to legal professionals;

Copyright Act 1968

and

Trade Marks Act 1995

in relation to the enforcement regime for counterfeit trade mark and copyright goods; and

Designs Act 2003

,

Patents Act 1990

,

Plant Breeder’s Rights Act 1994

and

Trade Marks Act 1995

to provide that the intellectual property rights system can adapt to the electronic and global business environments.

Appoints an Independent National Security Legislation Monitor to review the operation, effectiveness and implications of counter-terrorism and national security legislation and provides for: the functions and powers of the position; annual reporting requirements; and protection from legal action. Also contains a regulation making power.

to: require Infrastructure Australia to assess the proposed national broadband network and provide a report to the minister to be tabled in Parliament; and enable either House of the Parliament to refer infrastructure proposals to Infrastructure Australia for analysis and assessment.

Provides for the appointment of a royal commission of inquiry to investigate the accuracy, independence and use of intelligence information provided to the Commonwealth Government that contributed to its decision to commit Australian military forces to the war against Iraq.

Regulates interactive gambling services by creating an offence of providing interactive gambling services to Australian customers; and establishes a complaints scheme to enable Australians to make complaints about interactive gambling services on the Internet which are available to Australians.